Think Hard

Think Hard

By Danielle LaSusa & José MuñizSociety & CultureEducationPhilosophy
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Think Hard episodes

  • #42: I’m Not Sure What I Think
    It’s our annual Year in Review show, and we welcome our audio editor and
    engineer, Dan Short, as our special guest. José, Danielle, and Dan reflect
    on how Think Hard has grown in the last year, what we’ve learned, and what
    our favorite episodes are. We also discuss some goals for the future of
    Think Hard in the year to come. (Spoiler: We want to connect more with you,
    our listeners!)
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  • #41: Re-cognizing Gratitude
    During this holiday season, Danielle and José explore why cultivating
    gratitude may lead to increased well being, happiness, and richness of
    meaning. They suggest that gratitude is an achieved mental state that
    involves a re-cognition of our lives into a narrative of growth and
    positivity.
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  • #40: The Handmaid’s Fail?
    José thinks all television shows are bad because they share in two fatal
    flaws: the problem of overlapping narrative arcs and the limitation of
    outsider influence. After going back-and-forth, Danielle argues that newer
    television shows successfully manage these limitations, and José agrees to
    watch suggested shows and report back in a future episode.
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  • #39: God's Hot Burrito
    Danielle and José circle back to their conversation about the existence of
    God that they first had in episode #12: Is it Morally Wrong to Believe in
    God? This time, they debate not only the morality of the belief, but get
    right to the heart of the question: Does God exist? José is a theist and
    Danielle an atheist, so the conversation is rather lively!
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  • #12: Is it Morally Wrong to Believe in God?
    Danielle is an atheist and José is a theist, but he feels bad about
    believing in something for which he does not have evidence. Given all of
    the warfare and destruction in the name of God, is it morally wrong to hold
    this belief without sufficient evidence? José outlines an argument by
    William James, which attempts to justify belief in God as a special and
    specific kind of belief that one can hold by pure will. Is it enough to
    convince Danielle?
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  • #38: Does the truth matter? Did it ever?
    Danielle and José wonder if the truth matters. Why do we (including your
    hosts!) often believe things in the face of contrary evidence? What
    separates us from those who endanger themselves (and the world) by 
    refusing to acknowledge the truth, and acting out of what they want to be
    true. After considering how enmeshed our beliefs, desires, and wills are,
    they turn to some practical solutions for saving ourselves (and the world)
    from this danger.
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  • #37: Vision Bored
    Danielle and José assess whether or not the Law of Attraction is total
    bullshit. After careful consideration, we’ve determined that although there
    are lots of ways in which the Law of Attraction might be helpful, it also
    can be politically dangerous and, at times, utter nonsense.
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  • #36: What is Philosophical Coaching?
    In this episode, Danielle argues that philosophy makes an excellent
    foundation for counseling and coaching. Not only is history of philosophy
    foundational for psychology, but philosophers have skills of critical
    inquiry and analysis, which they bring to a whole host of human experiences
    and aspects of the human condition.
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  • #9: In Defense of Snobs
    Are snobs just obnoxious, self-righteous jerks, or do they contribute
    something of value to society? José argues that snobs are the protectors of
    culture and ought to be defended. Snobs save us from the faceless demands
    of a watered down marketplace and set a standard for the human experience.
    Danielle is skeptical, and wonders if snobbery is an expression of classist
    myopia, confusing personal preferences for objective standards.
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  • #35: Freeloaders & Fascists
    In this episode, special guest Charlie Gilkey—philosopher and founder of
    Productive Flourishing and author of the forthcoming Start Finishing and
    The Small Business Life Cycle—argues that all American citizens should
    serve three years in the military. He claims that such an experience
    engenders courage and fulfills a moral obligation of all citizens to
    meaningfully participate in the national defense. Although José seems
    persuaded by this idea, Danielle is not so sure.
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About Think Hard

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Philosophy is sometimes seen as impractical and impenetrable, but on Think Hard, two trained philosophers have accessible and lively conversations about contemporary culture, politics, and society.…